Scheff (2003) argues that shame, or its anticipation, is virtually ubiquitous, yet usually invisible, in modern societies. If this is, indeed, the case, then it is inevitable that social workers will also experience pride and shame in some way. The dearth of empirical studies on the subject (Gibson, 2016), however, limits our capacity both to see these experiences in practice and to understand them within the specific context of social work. Such experiences, therefore, slip from perception (Kaufman, 1989). Consequently, we have had limited answers to the questions of: how and why social workers, and children and families, experience pride and shame; who they are praised and shamed by, and for what reasons; or what consequence there may be from such experiences. The study of pride and shame is, however, the study of the human face of culture, power and belonging. It is through such processes that we can understand the emotional experience of identity, feeling safe and being authentic. This book has shown that these facets are central to the study and practice of social work, placing pride and shame as central concepts for research and practice.

This chapter will review and summarise the theory proposed throughout this book. It will consider this theory within the context of the case-study site used as an example throughout. While all child and family social work organisations will interpret the wider systemic pressures individually and have their own regional needs and local idiosyncrasies, the case example provides an illustration of how pride and shame can be used as technologies of power (Foucault, 1990; Creed et al, 2014) in political attempts to shape, direct and control public services. In addition, it also demonstrates the complexity of the decision-making process, where experiences, or the anticipation, of pride, shame and other self-conscious emotions drive practitioners to comply with, or resist, such pressures. These processes are not reserved specifically for child and family social work, however. Indeed, the whole welfare state and governmental apparatus has been going through a transformation as neoliberal ideas, agendas and values have become embedded into political, media and public discourse. These ideas, therefore, relate to other disciplines and practices.